Career Strategy Fellowships Study Abroad

Connect with Former Fellows

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The Light Fellowship Student Advisory Committee (SAC) was founded in 2007 by a group of Light Fellows returning to campus after their time abroad, eager to share their experiences with peers, encourage other students to seek the same opportunity, and give back to the Light Fellowship Program.  

Reach out to one of the SAC members below if you are interested in speaking to a former Fellow about applying to the Light Fellowship, choosing a program, spending a term or year abroad, or have general questions about the Light Fellowship experience and studying abroad in East Asia!

Tip: Contact the Light Fellowship office:

  • If you are interested in speaking to a recent Fellow with similar academic or career interests or who did a particular program or term abroad not represented below.
  • If you have questions or concerns about how your race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, language, disability, religion, or other identity considerations may impact your experience abroad and are unsure which SAC member to speak to.

We would be happy to share resources and put you in touch with former Fellows who are willing to share their experience and insights into these important considerations.

SAC Members


Dean Centa

BA
Global Affairs & East Asian Studies
2025

Award Details

SAC Details

2023-2024

Hello!! My name is Dean Kenichiro Centa and I am a junior in Jonathan Edwards College studying Global Affairs and East Asian Studies. During the 2022-2023 year, I studied abroad at Nanzan University in Nagoya studying Intensive Japanese!! I have grown up with Japanese culture my whole life because of my half-Japanese background, but being able to live and learn there for a whole year was a dream come true thanks to the Light Fellowship. During my year in Japan, I got to spend lots of time with my family, travel the entire country, and even watch Shohei Ohtani in-person at the Tokyo Dome for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. If there is anything you want to know about life in Japan, the Light Fellowship, or anything at all, feel free to reach out!


Hannah Lothian

BA
Mechanical Engineering
2024

Award Details

Summer
2020
No
Summer
2022
No

SAC Details

Language Officer
2023-2024

Howdy I'm Hannah, a junior in Branford and I studied Japanese remotely in the summer of 2020. The Light Fellowship really gave me the chance to put my language study into perspective. At PII we were able to talk to program alums who had continued their study in Japanese, and one of the best pieces of advice they gave was, "Your reasons for studying will change along the way." I started taking Japanese because I thought it was interesting, now I find myself invested in Japanese culture to the point where I'm really considering pursuing a graduate program or career in Japan! If you have questions about PII - and how it was online - feel free to reach out to me!


Tan Yi Tseung

BA
History
2025

Award Details

Summer
2021
No

SAC Details

2023-2024

Hi! My name is Tan Yi and I’m a history major with a passion for learning new languages. I started Japanese L1 my first semester at Yale and attended the CET-Japan virtual program during the summer after my freshman year. I then took a gap year to study at Nanzan University in Nagoya after finishing my sophomore year. Not only did I improve my Japanese tremendously through living with a host family but I also made many friends from all over the world. I learned to value human relationships more and to take risks and tried new hobbies such as swimming and hip-hop dance! I had such a blast thanks to Light Fellowship’s generous support and I would love to give back by connecting with prospective and future Fellows!